Hollow block



March 31, 1931. w. R. D. INNES HOLLOW BLOCK Filed June 29, 1928 INVEN I'OH VVillLam Hi]. Innes IITTORNEYS Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM ROBERT DRAYTON Ill-TNES, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, AS- SIGNOR TO JAMES BELL & CO. PROPRIETARY LIMITED, OF MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA HOLLOW BLOCK Application filed June 29, 1928, Serial No. 289,206, and in Australia January 9, 1928.

Q floor and ceiling construction in reinforced concrete building, but applicable also to other like work.

The block may be made of any of the usual mixtures of material used in the manufacture of building blocks, for example fibre and plaster of Paris, or of any mixture suitable for same, and it may be made of any desired size or shape and with one or more ornamental or roughened or other faces adapted to facilitate plastering.

In the making of the block two moulds are required, a larger one for the making of the completed block, and a smaller one for the making of a specially formed hollow core member, which subsequently becomes an integral part of the completed block. The moulds are made of metal or other suitable or preferred material.

In order that my improved block and the method of making same may be the more clearly understood I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows the completed block which functions also as a mould,

Fig. 2 shows the core member lifted from its mould,

Fig. 3 shows the core member turned bottom up,

Fig. l is a sectional View of the core member within its mould,

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the larger mould with a layer of material spread over the bottom, and with the core member placed thereon bottom upward,

Fig. 6 is a similar View to Fig. 5 but show ing the mould filled, the faces of the core member, which have been added to, being inclicated by dotted lines,

And Fig. 7 is a sectional View of the completed block.

The larger mould 1 (see Figures 5, 6, 7) is made with an open top and of the shape and size to contain the finished block. The smaller mould 2 also is made with an open top and of corresponding shape but of somewhat smaller size than the larger mould, approximately one inch smaller all round. Beads or ribs 3 positioned diagonally and/or otherwise are formed on the bottom of the smaller mould to form corresponding grooves in the face of the core.

To make the core member 4; the smaller mould 2 is placed with its open side upward and the mixture of material-as hereinbefore mentioned-As then applied to the sides and bottom of the mould-inside of same-and worked up to the thickness desired, for example, a one quarter inch, that upon the bottom being somewhat thicker to provide for the grooves 5. The top of the core is left full open except that one or more cross stays 6 of wooden lath or other light suitable material may be inserted between the opposite walls or sides of the core to stiffen them. After it has set the core is lifted out of its mould.

To make the complete block the larger mould 1 is placed with its open side upward and a layer 7 of. the mixture approximately three-quarters of an inch thick, is spread upon the bottom of same. The hollow core member l is then turned with its bottom up and placed centrally in position upon such layer of mixture 7. One or more distance pieces or struts 8 of wooden lath or other suitable material may be first placed in position. The block may be formed with or without these or other struts. More of the mixture is then poured and pressed in to fill all the space between the core and the mould and over the grooved toppreviously the bottom-of the core, such mixture adhering to the Walls and top of the core and making a complete onepiece hollow block 10 without any opening or visible joint, or in other words a block having a central cavity enclosed by comparatively thin unperforated walls. The core remains within and forms an integral part of the finished block.

The above measurements are given by way of example or illustration only and may be increased or decreased and varied as desired according to the purpose for which the block is required.

I claim:

1. A hollow closed block for use in building construction, having a central cavity, and comparatively thin imperforated walls enclosing said central cavity, one of said walls 5 being provided with a plurality of strengthening ribs.

2. A hollow closed block for use in building construction having a central cavity, comparatively thin imperforated walls en- 10 closing said central cavity and braces extending between the walls enclosing said cavity.

3. A one-piece closed hollow block for use in building construction comprising an outer shell having walls extending vertically on all sides, and an inner shell of similar construction inverted and contained Within said first-named shell, and cast-united therewith for securing said shells in fixed relation.

4:. A one-piece closed hollow block for use in building construction comprising an outer shell having walls extending vertically on all sides, and an inner shell of similar construction inverted and contained within said outer shell and cast-united therewith, the

base of said inner shell being flush with the top of said vertically extending walls.

5. A hollow closed block for use in building construction having a central cavity and comparatively thin unperforated Walls enclosing said central cavity, one of said walls being provided with a plurality of strengthening ribs and braces extending between the walls enclosing said cavity.

In witness whereof, the said WILLIAM Ron- 5 ERT DRAYTON INNES, has hereunto set his hand this fifth day of May, 1928.

7 WILLIAM ROBERT DRAYTON ENNES. 

